Our paragraph topic is: (The Baptist's deputation) Part 1.
Now it came to pass that after Christ had finished instructing his disciples and training them for their solo journey in which they would preach to the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel, he preached through the towns and villages also. After all this had passed, this verse says that John the Baptist heard of all that Christ was doing while in prison. John did not see for himself the miracles of Christ. He did not hear for himself the words that Christ preached in the Sermon on the Mount. John had been captured and put into prison by Herod for proclaiming the sins of Herod with his brother's wife.
The disciples of John came to him and spoke to him of all that Christ was doing. They told him of the healings. They told him of the cures. They told him of the dead being restored to life. They were the ones who brought John the news. And that news had a way of being transformed, deleted, transposed by the persons bringing it, so that, it may reflect the views of that person. John knew that Christ was the Messiah. He had witnessed the heavens open and the spirit of God descend upon Christ when he was baptised. So there was no doubt in John. There was no scandal in John. There was no fear or concern in John about Christ. But his disciples had doubt. They had fears, they had misgivings and reserevations in themselves.
Christ had told the disciples of John that one does not place new wine into old wine skins. He had said to them that one does not place a new patch of cloth on an old garment because the patch will tear and a worse rent will be made than the one before. Christ had indicated to the disciples of John that they would not become his disciples because he needed new wine skins to carry this new message. This was not to the liking of the disciples of John. They had made themselves to be the messengers of the new gospel preached by John. They had become his spokesmen proclaiming the need for repentance. And then Christ comes and ignores them completely. Christ comes and changes the plans altogether. Christ comes and they are on the outside looking in.
So the disciples of John were scandalized. They were looked down upon by the people. They were turned away from by those who had looked upon them with favor. John was in prison, they were turned out by Christ, and the people turned against them. Restoration was their desire. Glory was their need. Fame was their calling. But John was not there to assist them. And they were scandalized. So they brought the news to John while he was in prison. They told him of the things that Christ was doing. They filled his ears and his mind with the talk of Christ according to their view and their slant. For they needed to be restored. They needed fame. They needed glory. So, John sent them to Christ with the question that was on their minds. The doubt in their minds led them to ask Christ through the words of John, "Art thou he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
And with these words scandal was released. Doubt was brought forth. The question of credability was asked. Scandal is an aweful witch. She seeks to destroy subtly. She weaves lies and deceit in a fine tapestry that seems to create a real picture. Yet time reveals the gaping holes and the rotted material that is used in its creation. And it is that same material that is accepted as real, the false beauty of which allows it to be accepted by many. Scandals today are like wildfire sweeping across a dry field of grass. It is unstoppable. It eats everything in its path and sets afire all who receive it. For the burning is not in the receipt of it but in the unquenchable desire to tell others thereby passing the flame of lies and deceits to others.
Do you love Scandal? Are you the first to hear it and the first to spread it along? Scandal loves you if you do. She will cling to you like flies to the dead. You are her messenger. She will always find you to help her spread her lies and deceit. Do not be caught with her for she will corrupt you. When she comes leave her. Do not allow yourself to become her messenger. Separate yourself from those who would bring her to you. For they have become her slaves and desire to enslave you also. They desire to make you a messenger of Scandal. Spread not lies and deceit. Our God is a God of truth and his wrath awaits Scandal and those who are her messengers. Stop the lies and deceit! Stop Scandal!
Now it came to pass that after Christ had finished instructing his disciples and training them for their solo journey in which they would preach to the lost sheep of the tribe of Israel, he preached through the towns and villages also. After all this had passed, this verse says that John the Baptist heard of all that Christ was doing while in prison. John did not see for himself the miracles of Christ. He did not hear for himself the words that Christ preached in the Sermon on the Mount. John had been captured and put into prison by Herod for proclaiming the sins of Herod with his brother's wife.
The disciples of John came to him and spoke to him of all that Christ was doing. They told him of the healings. They told him of the cures. They told him of the dead being restored to life. They were the ones who brought John the news. And that news had a way of being transformed, deleted, transposed by the persons bringing it, so that, it may reflect the views of that person. John knew that Christ was the Messiah. He had witnessed the heavens open and the spirit of God descend upon Christ when he was baptised. So there was no doubt in John. There was no scandal in John. There was no fear or concern in John about Christ. But his disciples had doubt. They had fears, they had misgivings and reserevations in themselves.
Christ had told the disciples of John that one does not place new wine into old wine skins. He had said to them that one does not place a new patch of cloth on an old garment because the patch will tear and a worse rent will be made than the one before. Christ had indicated to the disciples of John that they would not become his disciples because he needed new wine skins to carry this new message. This was not to the liking of the disciples of John. They had made themselves to be the messengers of the new gospel preached by John. They had become his spokesmen proclaiming the need for repentance. And then Christ comes and ignores them completely. Christ comes and changes the plans altogether. Christ comes and they are on the outside looking in.
So the disciples of John were scandalized. They were looked down upon by the people. They were turned away from by those who had looked upon them with favor. John was in prison, they were turned out by Christ, and the people turned against them. Restoration was their desire. Glory was their need. Fame was their calling. But John was not there to assist them. And they were scandalized. So they brought the news to John while he was in prison. They told him of the things that Christ was doing. They filled his ears and his mind with the talk of Christ according to their view and their slant. For they needed to be restored. They needed fame. They needed glory. So, John sent them to Christ with the question that was on their minds. The doubt in their minds led them to ask Christ through the words of John, "Art thou he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
And with these words scandal was released. Doubt was brought forth. The question of credability was asked. Scandal is an aweful witch. She seeks to destroy subtly. She weaves lies and deceit in a fine tapestry that seems to create a real picture. Yet time reveals the gaping holes and the rotted material that is used in its creation. And it is that same material that is accepted as real, the false beauty of which allows it to be accepted by many. Scandals today are like wildfire sweeping across a dry field of grass. It is unstoppable. It eats everything in its path and sets afire all who receive it. For the burning is not in the receipt of it but in the unquenchable desire to tell others thereby passing the flame of lies and deceits to others.
Do you love Scandal? Are you the first to hear it and the first to spread it along? Scandal loves you if you do. She will cling to you like flies to the dead. You are her messenger. She will always find you to help her spread her lies and deceit. Do not be caught with her for she will corrupt you. When she comes leave her. Do not allow yourself to become her messenger. Separate yourself from those who would bring her to you. For they have become her slaves and desire to enslave you also. They desire to make you a messenger of Scandal. Spread not lies and deceit. Our God is a God of truth and his wrath awaits Scandal and those who are her messengers. Stop the lies and deceit! Stop Scandal!
